The first responders were headed to Ocala International Airport regarding a single-engine plane crash with an injured pilot.

Osteen soon encountered rush hour traffic and what several frustrated emergency-vehicle operators agree is a source of “material delay” on calls: unresponsive drivers who intentionally or unwittingly do not yield properly to emergency vehicles.

It is a substantial source of frustration for local emergency responders who contend the use of cellphones and other driving distractions have only added to the problem.

On the way to the April plane crash, the cars at Silver Springs Boulevard and Pine Avenue eventually cleared enough for Osteen to guide the big truck through the intersection. But, later, a driver of an SR5 Toyota truck did not move out of the way near I-75. After several seconds, the Toyota driver signaled and turned left.

“They hold us up. We have to check, check, check. (Some) drivers don't care because it's not their emergency. A lot of them are on cellphones,” said Osteen, a 16-year OFR veteran. “The driving has gotten worse.”

Some of the drivers seemed unaware of the massive truck, even when Osteen hit the “rumbler,” a low-frequency siren Osteen said can “rattle the windows of cars.”

The six-and-a-half miles from Ocala Fire Station No. 1 to the airport took about 10 minutes. After arriving on scene, Osteen parked the truck in a position to act as a landing-zone reference for the helicopter transporting the injured pilot to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville for treatment. She was released from the hospital about a week later.

Certainly, as the county and city grow, there are more emergency crews responding to more calls these days. The agencies reported more than 80,0000 calls in 12 months. Additionally, there are more cars on the road. Marion County Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Paul Nevels said although most drivers are “pretty good” about yielding, some, mainly distracted drivers, are a problem.

“Absolutely, the (non-yielding drivers) cause a great deal of difficulty. Drivers should slow and safely pull over to the right where possible,” he said.

Sgt. Frank Zadnik with the Ocala Police Department agrees. “It is a problem and safety issue everywhere,” he said.

As per Florida law, when emergency vehicles approach with lights or sirens, drivers ”shall immediately proceed to a position parallel to, and as close as reasonable to the closest edge of the curb of the roadway, clear of any intersection and shall stop and remain in position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.”

OFR firefighter-paramedic and ShandsCair flight medic Jessie Blaire has operated large trucks for about 14 years.

“It's a lot of responsibility,” Blaire said. “If it was a 911 run involving their child, they'd move.”

The more urgent the emergency, the more it seems like traffic interferes, he added.

“These are more maneuverable but less visible than the big trucks,” Moore said recently from Ocala Fire Station No. 1. Soon after he spoke, he and firefighter-paramedic Brent Stegall scrambled to a 911 medical call.

As they turned left and headed south at Silver Springs Boulevard and Pine Avenue with lights and siren operating, a white Ford truck turned along with the emergency vehicle in the dual left turn lanes and passed them, only to pull over about a block after the turn.

Advanced Life Support paramedic truck driver Chase Howard, 21, said the intersection of Silver Springs Boulevard and Pine Avenue is a particularly difficult area to negotiate.

OFR veteran Dan Pope said oftentimes the first responders are “buzzed” or passed very closely by speeding cars as they work along busy roadways. Pope said the unsafe drivers “don't pay attention to Florida's 'move over' law,” which requires motorists to slow down and give emergency workers ample room.

“If people would put themselves in the place of the families needing help,” Nevels said, “they would want (to yield) so we would get to the emergency as soon as possible.”

<p>One afternoon in April, Ocala Fire Rescue Fire's David Osteen swung the 16-plus-ton Squad 1 Technical Rescue Truck from Watula Avenue onto Silver Springs Boulevard. As the truck barreled west toward Pine Avenue, traffic scattered like a spilled ant farm.</p><p>The first responders were headed to Ocala International Airport regarding a single-engine plane crash with an injured pilot.</p><p>Osteen soon encountered rush hour traffic and what several frustrated emergency-vehicle operators agree is a source of “material delay” on calls: unresponsive drivers who intentionally or unwittingly do not yield properly to emergency vehicles.</p><p>It is a substantial source of frustration for local emergency responders who contend the use of cellphones and other driving distractions have only added to the problem.</p><p>On the way to the April plane crash, the cars at Silver Springs Boulevard and Pine Avenue eventually cleared enough for Osteen to guide the big truck through the intersection. But, later, a driver of an SR5 Toyota truck did not move out of the way near I-75. After several seconds, the Toyota driver signaled and turned left.</p><p>“They hold us up. We have to check, check, check. (Some) drivers don't care because it's not their emergency. A lot of them are on cellphones,” said Osteen, a 16-year OFR veteran. “The driving has gotten worse.”</p><p>Some of the drivers seemed unaware of the massive truck, even when Osteen hit the “rumbler,” a low-frequency siren Osteen said can “rattle the windows of cars.”</p><p>“Some cars are very soundproofed,” added firefighter-paramedic Clayton Anderson, the 20-year OFR veteran with Osteen that day.</p><p>The six-and-a-half miles from Ocala Fire Station No. 1 to the airport took about 10 minutes. After arriving on scene, Osteen parked the truck in a position to act as a landing-zone reference for the helicopter transporting the injured pilot to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville for treatment. She was released from the hospital about a week later. </p><p>Certainly, as the county and city grow, there are more emergency crews responding to more calls these days. The agencies reported more than 80,0000 calls in 12 months. Additionally, there are more cars on the road. Marion County Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Paul Nevels said although most drivers are “pretty good” about yielding, some, mainly distracted drivers, are a problem.</p><p>“Absolutely, the (non-yielding drivers) cause a great deal of difficulty. Drivers should slow and safely pull over to the right where possible,” he said.</p><p>Sgt. Frank Zadnik with the Ocala Police Department agrees. “It is a problem and safety issue everywhere,” he said.</p><p>As per Florida law, when emergency vehicles approach with lights or sirens, drivers ”shall immediately proceed to a position parallel to, and as close as reasonable to the closest edge of the curb of the roadway, clear of any intersection and shall stop and remain in position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.” </p><p>OFR firefighter-paramedic and ShandsCair flight medic Jessie Blaire has operated large trucks for about 14 years.</p><p>“It's a lot of responsibility,” Blaire said. “If it was a 911 run involving their child, they'd move.”</p><p>The more urgent the emergency, the more it seems like traffic interferes, he added.</p><p>Firefighter-paramedic Robert Moore drives a “box”-style emergency medical truck.</p><p>“These are more maneuverable but less visible than the big trucks,” Moore said recently from Ocala Fire Station No. 1. Soon after he spoke, he and firefighter-paramedic Brent Stegall scrambled to a 911 medical call.</p><p>As they turned left and headed south at Silver Springs Boulevard and Pine Avenue with lights and siren operating, a white Ford truck turned along with the emergency vehicle in the dual left turn lanes and passed them, only to pull over about a block after the turn.</p><p>Advanced Life Support paramedic truck driver Chase Howard, 21, said the intersection of Silver Springs Boulevard and Pine Avenue is a particularly difficult area to negotiate.</p><p>OFR veteran Dan Pope said oftentimes the first responders are “buzzed” or passed very closely by speeding cars as they work along busy roadways. Pope said the unsafe drivers “don't pay attention to Florida's 'move over' law,” which requires motorists to slow down and give emergency workers ample room.</p><p>“If people would put themselves in the place of the families needing help,” Nevels said, “they would want (to yield) so we would get to the emergency as soon as possible.”</p>